Rack



Patented Oct. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. JARVIS, OFJBMTZILE CREEK, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED STEEL G7 WIRE COMPANY, OF BA 'ITLE CREEK, MICHIGAN.

BACK.

Application filed January 26, 1927. Serial No. 163,656.

The main object of this inventionis to provide an improved rack for the d1splay of merchandise and the like which is strong and rigid when erected and may be collapsed into a compact form for shipment or storage. e

A further object is to provide a rack which is well adapted to support a plurality of boxes so that they may be individually opened without removing from the rack and so that their contents may be effectively displayed. I I

Objects relating to details and economies of construction and operation of my invention will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow. I The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

' A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of I this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a rack embodying the features of my invention, with the shelves in erected position.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on a line corresponding to line2-2 of Fig. 1, the shelves being shown in their erected position by full lines and in collapsed position by dotted lines.

In. the drawing similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, in the embodiment illustrated, my improved rack comprises a pair of'end members and a air of sidemembers pivotally connected to e collapsed one upon the other. These end and side embers are substantially as illustrated inmy' application for Letters Patent filed March 5, 1926, Serial No.92,444.

The end members comprise uprights 1 formed of wire or light rods of suitable gauge, and cross pieces 2, the crosspieces being arranged with their ends projecting beyond the uprights and terminating in horizontally disposed eyes 3. The lower ends of the uprights are formed into feet or legs by loop-like bends in the upri hts, the inner arms of these loops be'ng wel ed to the bottom cross piece 2. races 5 are disposed diagonally across the cross pieces.

The side members comprise uprights 6 and connecting longitudinal members7, the

uprights being engaged in the eyes 3. Diagonally disposed braces 8 are arranged below the lower longitudinal members 7. I provide V-shaped shelves, each shelf comprising a pair of sections designated generally by the numerals 9 and 10. The inner sections 9 are made up of longitudinal wires 11 and 12 with connecting cross'wires 13, the wires 13 having eyes 14 at their rear ends pivotally engaging the longitudinal members 7 of the rear side member.

The front sections 10 are made upv of 1011-,

gitudinal wires 15 and cross wires 16, there being however but one longitudinal wire for the front section of the bottom shelf, in the embodiment illustrated, and two for the front section of the top shelf This, how'- ever, may be varied according to the width of the section.

The cross wires of the front sections have eyes 17 therein engaging the longitudinal wires 12 of the rear shelf sections. These cross wires are provided with hooks 18 which are detachably engageable with the longitudinal members of the front side member so that when engaged, the shelves are supported as shown in the drawing, but when disengaged, they swing to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, in a substantially vertical position. The rack may be 001- lapsedor folded, the shelf and end members swinging endwise upon their pivotal connections.

The collapsed shown as it is be ieved that this will be understood, the same being, however, as shown in my said copendingapplication with the exception that the shelf members would occupy a different position.

When erected, the shelf members serve as means for preventing the collapsing of the rack.

My improved rack is especially designed for holding boxes, such as the well-known packages embodied forthedisplay of cook- 1es an baked goods and the like, the boxes being supported in an inclined position so that their contents are effectively displayed and are accessible without removal of the boxes from the rack.

My improvements may, however, be readily adapted and are desirable for a great variety of uses, especially for use in stores, shops and the like.

osition of the rack is not' Having thus described my invention, wnat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: v

1. In a collapsible rack, the combination of end members comprising uprights and cross pieces secured to said uprights and provided with horizontally disposed eyes, side members comprising end uprights pivotally engaging the said eyes and longitudinal pieces connecting said uprights, and

' shelves comprising inner sections pivotally mounted on the longitudinal pieces of one side member and outer sections pivotally mounted on the swinging ends of the inner sections and provided with hooks adapted to be detachably engaged with the longitudinal members of the other side member providing V-shaped shelves when erected, said shelves being adapted to swing down against the side member to which the inner sections are pivotally connected when the outer sections are disengaged from the other side member, thereby permitting the collapsing of the rack. I

2. In a collapsible rack, the combination of end members and side members, pivotally connected to permit collapsing, and shelves comprising inner sections pivotally mounted on the longitudinal pieces of one'side memher and outer sections pivotally mounted on the swinging ends of the inner sections and provided with hooks adapted to be detachably engaged with the longitudinal members of the other side member providing V-shaped shelves when erected, said shelves being adapted to swing down against the side member to which the inner sections are pivotally connected when the outer sections are disengaged from the other side member, thelgeby permitting {the collapsing of the rate 3. In a collapsible rack, the combination of end members and side members pivotally connected thereto to permit collapsing upon each other, and a Veshapedshelf comprising pivotally connected members, one of said shelf members being pivotally mounted on one of the side members, the other shelf member being detachably connected to the opposite side member whereby said shelf members are supported in erected position when the detachable shelf member is engaged or may be swung to a substantially vertical position when disengaged, thereby permitting the collapsing of the rack.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set 111 band. a

y CHARLES H. JARVIS. 

